Ōnoki and the Sandaime simultaneously produced specially-made signal flares.
Bang!
The two villages' flares exploded in the sky.
Three to four consecutive waves.
Such signals typically indicated reconciliation and ceasefire.
Therefore.
All combatants in the vicinity halted.
Immediately after, a portion of ANBU also retrieved and launched signal flares.
Every shinobi saw the ceasefire signal—even Namikaze Minato's team deep behind Iwa lines.
"Minato, it's a ceasefire."
"We've succeeded..."
Namikaze Minato exhaled in relief.
The facts proved Kyōichi's tactics were brilliantly effective. Their rear assault had shattered Iwa's defenses—the elite jōnin and chūnin left behind had their formations collapsed within minutes.
To put it bluntly.
After the initial clash, Iwa never managed to establish another proper defensive line.
The result?
When Ōnoki returned, he found only one-third of his medical teams remaining. His fists clenched involuntarily.
Damn it!
Rage simmered in his chest, yet he was powerless.
"Tsuchikage-sama, in war we each rely on our abilities. I hope you won't fault us for being... thorough."
Namikaze Minato smiled gently.
Unlike before.
Ōnoki had little prior interaction with Minato this campaign—Kumo actually knew the Yellow Flash better. But from Kyōichi's words, he'd learned something crucial—
This man had mastered Nidaime Hokage's "Shinsoku" secret technique.
Surveying the ravaged camp, Ōnoki pieced together the sequence and sighed: "I, Ōnoki, have fought hundreds of battles and led countless campaigns, priding myself on tactical acumen... yet still fell into your trap."
"Not at all. You're truly formidable—had I not mastered a few extra techniques, I'd have died to you earlier."
Kyōichi approached from behind.
Not that he worried for Minato's safety.
Given Iwa's current predicament, Ōnoki had no choice but surrender—unless he wanted Iwagakure's jōnin ranks decimated.
Thus.
Minato's position was utterly secure; Ōnoki wouldn't dare attack.
Kyōichi's real purpose?
Profit.
"..."
Ōnoki refused to engage.
This brat was what—seventeen?
He'd lived multiple of Kyōichi's lifetimes, yet nearly died to his explosive tag chains. As Tsuchikage, the humiliation burned.
Now the kid came to twist the knife.
If only he could catch him—a good beating might relieve his fury.
"Ahem. Kyōichi, I'll report to Sandaime-sama first."
"Go ahead. I'll handle the aftermath here."
Kyōichi nodded.
Ōnoki surveyed the devastation, his heart spasming.
These were Iwa's elites...
So many jōnin and chūnin dead. Medical teams wiped out wholesale. Rebuilding would take years.
And this was just the camp—the main battlefield losses were worse.
Moreover—
With medics gone, the wounded here received no treatment.
"Tsuchikage-sama, your forces have suffered heavy losses."
"..."
Ōnoki turned, exhaling sharply. "Speak plainly. I'm old, but not so frail you'll anger me to death."
"Excellent. Wait—I mean, Konoha wishes to offer medical aid on humanitarian grounds. Would Iwagakure accept?"
Kyōichi coughed delicately.
Ōnoki blinked, then asked warily: "Is it free?"
"I'll waive my fees out of respect for you. But summoning Katsuyu-sama requires compensation—she's a sage of Shikkotsu Forest. Surely you wouldn't insult her?"
"..."
Just demand money outright!
Since when do summons charge appearance fees?
Yet Ōnoki knew refusing meant more Iwa-nin deaths. Coin meant nothing compared to lives.
"Your price?"
"Reasonable. Let's say... one-tenth of Tsuchi-sama's ransom?"
"Unfair! Tsuchi was captured—this is aid! And you said you'd waive fees!"
"Fine. One-twentieth?"
"..."
After relentless haggling, Ōnoki agreed to pay 5 million ryō upfront—equivalent to an S-rank mission's reward.
The catch?
Immediate payment.
Fuming, Ōnoki discovered the supply depot's explosive tags had been looted—no wonder Minato fled so fast.
Scraping together only 1 million, he had to issue an Iwagakure promissory note for the rest.
Kyōichi didn't hesitate.
Payment delivered, he acted.
However—
He clarified terms first: healing required Iwa-nin to donate chakra.
With money paid, Ōnoki didn't quibble over chakra.
Then.
Kyōichi used all remaining tailed beast chakra to summon a massive Katsuyu clone. After negotiation, it split into countless tiny slugs that dispersed to every wounded.
Next—
He siphoned substantial chakra from Iwa-nin to replenish his Yin Seal reserves.
Ōnoki wasn't fooled.
Beyond the initial summoning cost, Kyōichi used zero personal chakra—all healing energy came from drained Iwa-nin, hence the intermittent pauses.
Though he'd suspected Kyōichi maintained Konoha's Katsuyu network, seeing it firsthand left him bitter—
The boy's medical prowess would rank first in Iwagakure.
He didn't know Tsunade's current level, but Kyōichi wasn't far behind.
The kicker?
This was merely his side discipline—his main focus was kenjutsu.
What monstrous talent!
Why couldn't Iwa produce such geniuses?
Ōnoki's chest ached.
Nearing sixty, his village had no Jinton successors. Not even practitioners of Light-Weight Rock or Added Weight Rock.
None!
This Konoha brat had calculated precisely—knowing Ōnoki wouldn't risk annihilation.
And he was right.
Sighing, Ōnoki pondered how to handle Kumo.
The Sandaime Raikage wouldn't go quietly.
Hours later, treatment concluded.
"Kyōichi, this strategy against Iwa was yours, yes?"
Ōnoki had cooled down.
Defeat was defeat.
Iwagakure struck first—paying reparations after losing was expected.
But.
He needed to know the architect.
The Sandaime Hokage?
Please.
He knew Sarutobi Hiruzen too well.
That cautious old man would never authorize such bold maneuvers.
"Guess."
"Enough games. Iwa will honor our agreement—we'll strike Kumo's rear. But results depend on Konoha's commitment."
"You propose...?"
Kyōichi played along.
"Jointly eliminate the Sandaime Raikage. If he returns, Kumo will restart the war within years—bad for all."
Ōnoki laid it bare.
Iwa's techniques were hard-countered by Kumo—especially the "Strongest Spear" Hell Stab that shredded Doton like paper.
He'd dreamed of killing the Raikage for decades.
Kyōichi's Fūton mastery, Samehada's chakra absorption, and blinding speed made him the perfect counter.
"The Sandaime Raikage..."
Kyōichi deliberated.
Eliminating him served Konoha's interests too.
The man had fought Hachibi to a standstill—the only wound on his body was self-inflicted.
In the original timeline, Ōnoki needed 10,000 Iwa-nin to exhaust him to death.
An absurd feat.
While Konoha wasn't as specialized as Iwa, few could challenge the Raikage.
Letting him escape...
Would be disastrous.
After a long pause, Kyōichi said: "This exceeds my authority. I must consult Konoha and Hokage-sama. But rest assured—I'm interested."
"Good. But hurry—speed wins wars. Delay risks Kumo retreating intact... though Konoha wouldn't mind, would you?"
Ōnoki's insight impressed Kyōichi.
With minimal intel, he'd deduced the entire strategy.
Age brought cunning indeed.
But Kyōichi refused to be manipulated. Unlike Iwa, Konoha didn't fear the Raikage as acutely. And Ōnoki had hostages to consider—
Tsuchi and Rōshi remained in Konoha custody until war's end.
"Would I renege? We march for Lightning Country tomorrow—satisfied?"
Ōnoki scowled.
This kid conceded nothing.
Exhausting!
"You'll have Konoha's answer by nightfall."
Kyōichi vanished.
"The Senju bloodline is truly enviable."
Ōnoki lamented privately.
First Senju Hashirama and Tobirama. Now Tsunade and Kanda Kyōichi.
He knew the Senju had dispersed into Konoha's populace—Kyōichi being a product of their integration policy. Yet even diluted by two generations, their power manifested strongly.
Such terrifying heritage!